by David J. Stewart
Hebrews 10:19 and 22, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. ... Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience...”
Years ago I went to get some parts at work at the parts window and someone had hung up an adjacent sign that said, “There's Always Something You Thought You Could Have Done To Make Things Better!” To this day I have no idea who hung up that sign, but that message forever impressed upon my heart and I've never forgotten what I read that night. It's amazing how a seemingly small, perhaps even insignificant thing, can have a profound and lasting impact upon our life. Acts 4:19-20, “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Every man is my teacher!
There's Always Something You Thought You Could Have Done To Make Things Better! Mark Twain (1835-1910) once said, “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.” That is so true! Just think if I had never been born. Think if my online ministry had never been published for millions of people to see and benefit from in the Lord!
As a blessed result of this humble ministry of God's unconditional love, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST! To God be the glory! 2nd Corinthians 10:17-18, “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” My goal is to please God, not men. Preachers have always been hated for proclaiming THE TRUTH. Galatians 4:16, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” John 8:40, “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God...” John 8:45, “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.”
Just think if one thing in my life had been different, this online ministry wouldn't exist. If just one thing had been different in my parent's life, this ministry wouldn't exist. If God had not raised up Dr. Jack Hyles (1926-2001), this ministry wouldn't exist. Thank God! Thank God! Thank God! Amen and amen!
There's Always Something You Thought You Could Have Done To Make Things Better!
You must never live in the past unchangeable world of, “I SHOULD OF... I COULD OF... I WOULD OF...!” The past is “water under the bridge” as the saying goes. The past is forever gone. It is because of OUR SINS that we deserve to be punished in Hell forever. Thankfully, the Lord paid a debt that He did not owe, because we owed a grievous debt of sin that we could not pay. JESUS PAID IT ALL! What a wonderful and awesome God.
Our text Scripture teaches for Christian believers to sprinkle the blood of Jesus upon an evil conscience. If you acknowledge your SINNERSHIP for breaking God's commandments, believing that Jesus is the Christ Who DIED, was BURIED and miraculously RESURRECTED three days later from the dead, then you are saved. As a child of God, never allow the Devil to drag you down and discourage you from serving God because of past sins, mistakes and faults. Never let other people decide “WHEN” you have repented. It's none of their business. The matter is between you and God alone.
No matter how hard you may try, you'll NEVER be able to please people or restore yourself in their eyes. It's been nearly 2,000 years and yet people still slander the Lord Jesus Christ, calling Him everything from an a liar, to a bastard, a deceiver, demon-possessed and a nutcase. If people will slander and blaspheme the sinless Savior, then I assure you that they are going to criticize you and I as Jesus' disciples (John 15:19). The Bible tells us that God criticizes the critics. Proverbs 3:34, “Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.” Lowly people refrain from attacking others. Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” If we obey Philippians 2:3, then we will humble ourselves, acknowledging our own sinfulness, and avoiding slandering others who sin or are accused of sinning. Proverbs 3:34 says that God criticizes the critics! I choose to be lowly and cast myself at the feet of Jesus as a sinner.
AT THE FEET OF JESUS . . .
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Mark 5:22, “And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet.”
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Mark 7:25, “For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet.”
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Luke 7:38, “And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”
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Luke 17:16, “And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.”
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Luke 11:32, “Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet...”
This is exactly what the Bible warns in Matthew 7:1-2, that is, God will measure out to us by THE SAME standards that we have measured out to others. Have we measured out fairness, forgiveness, love, mercy and generosity; or are we guilty of measuring out greed, gossip, hatred, holding a grudge and self-righteous hypocrisy?
Never underestimate the will and power of God. Only God knows the things that would have happened, if the things that happened hadn't happened. Remember, Jesus chose Judas to be His apostle, a known thief who had a devil in him (John 6:70). God works in mysterious ways my friend. Our duty is to fear God and keep His commandments. Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
No one is perfect, except Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God (Hebrews 4:15; 2nd Corinthians 5:21). John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” God is a good God, Who in his love has provided a way of escape from the second death in the everlasting Lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8). The way of escape is by God's grace through our faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When asked why freak-show, heavy-metal rocker, 'Marilyn Manson' rips apart Bibles in concert, Manson's guitarist and band co-founder Scott Putesky (also called Daisy Berkowitz) stated “Nothing is sacred and morality is ambiguous.” Lead singer, “CLOWN” from 'Slid Nod' Open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead
As long as there is Rock music, young people will try to scare the old to entertain the young. This is why 'Marilyn Manson,' 'Alice Cooper,' 'Slipknot' and other freak sideshow Rock bands are massively popular worldwide. Not surprisingly, like a little coward, Brian Warner (aka, Marilyn Manson) vanished from public view after the Colorado shooting massacre. Manson's music was indicted by angry parents from the very start of the ordeal.
